Integrating NRM

1
Integrating NRM
into NSW Local Government Operations- Overview

• An LGSA Training Initiative.

2
Workshop Objectives

• The objectives of this workshop are to
• provide an overview of the LGSA Guidelines
• facilitate discussion on Volumes 1 2 with
  relevant practitioners
• identify barriers to successful implementation
  and steps to overcome them
• encourage local NRM networks
• develop ideas on where to from here

3
Workshop Program

• Session 1 - Objectives of the day
• Introduction
• Overview of NRM
• Other useful NRM resources
• Morning Tea
• Session 2 The Guidelines
• Guideline 1 Corporate Planning and Reporting
• Guideline 2 Land Use Planning
• Lunch

4
Workshop Program

• Session 3 Workgroups
• Broken up into those with an interest in
  Corporate Planning and Reporting and Land Use
  Planning
• Session 4 Council Groups
• Planning our way forward
• Session 5 Where To From Here
• 330pm Close

5
Introduction

• Complete the following statement.
• When it comes to NRM I think my Council is
  either
• Really good at
• OR
• Trying hard at
• OR
• Needs help with

6
Session 1 - Introduction

• Within this session we will briefly cover
• What is Natural Resource Management (NRM)?
• How is NRM managed ?
• What are the key NRM challenges in NSW?
• Why should you become involved?
• Using the Guidelines.
• Where to from here?

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What is Natural Resource Management?

• Our natural resources are our
• land
• soil
• water
• plants
• animals
• minerals
• air
• Altogether they make up our landscapes.
• Natural Resource Management (NRM) is the
  management of all these elements and the
  processes which link them.

8
NRM and Ecologically Sustainable Development

• Good quality NRM does not inhibit development.
• It actually supports the principles of
  Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD).
• Managing the landscape in line with the
  principles of ESD is a requirement of the Local
  Government Act

9
How is NRM Managed?
10
Commonwealth Government Responsibilities

• The key responsibilities of the Commonwealth are
• International treaties
• Sets the agenda for investment, eg.
  Caring for our Country
• Establishes national standards for NRM

Breaching Humpback
Gordon Below Franklin
Fraser Island
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State Government Responsibilities

• Establish standards for NRM
• NSW Standard for Quality Natural Resource
  Management
• Establish strategic planning frameworks
• eg NSW State Plan a New Direction for NSW
• Establish state-wide statutory planning
• eg Regional Strategies, SEPPs

12
State Government Responsibilities (contd)

• Legal responsibility
• Management and protection of natural resources
• Manages significant lands
• Crown Land, National Parks
• Provides funding
• NSW Environmental Trust

13
Regional Responsibilities

• 13 Catchment Management Authorities (CMA).
• Each with a 10-year Catchment Action Plan
  (CAPs).
• designed to
• coordinate regional planning
• meeting state wide and catchment targets for NRM.
  

14
Local Government Responsibilities

• Strategic Statutory Planning
• Settlement or Land Use Strategies
• Land use zonings
• Provisions/Clauses in LEP/DCP
• Development control
• Public Land Management
• Plans of Management
• On Ground Works
• Rehabilitation and restoration
• Noxious environmental weed control
• Stormwater management and control
• Community Engagement

•  
•  

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Who else is involved in NRM?

• Regional Organisations of Councils (ROCs)
• Eg. Hunter Councils REMS
• NGOs and Local Volunteers
• Bushcare, Landcare, Coastcare
• Businesses and Industry Associations
• Businesses are sponsoring NRM projects
• eg CVA/Rio Tinto www.conservationvolunteers.co
  m.au

16
Key Issues for Local Government in NRM
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Key Issues Cost

• NRM programs require a Budget
• Not implementing NRM programs
• could become much more expensive
• in the long term
• Eg it costs a lot more money to remove silt
  from a waterway than it does to prevent it
  getting in there in the first place

18
NRM Expenditure by Local Government
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Why You Should Become Involved

• Increased community expectation
• Healthy landscapes create healthy communities
• Effective NRM creates special places to live,
  work and play
• Its great for the local economy
• Council needs to set the standard in its own
  backyard.
• Legal responsibility Its the law!

20
Increased community expectation

• The DECC survey Who Cares About The
  Environment? found that the community demand
  for environmental protection continues to grow.
• More than 50 of respondents
• from Regional and Rural NSW

21
Q. Please rank the following issues as Very
Important, Important, Not That Important.
3rd
Environment ranked third overall. 93 of
respondents ranked Environment as Very
Important or Important
22
Q. Who do you think is doing enough and who do
you think should be doing more to protect the
environment.?
23
Healthy landscapes create healthy communities

• A healthy environment is an important part of
  keeping a healthy community
• Deterioration of water supply and/or productive
  soil in some rural areas has seen communities
  decline
• - NRM can help to create an environment more
  resilient to challenges like climate change

24
Helps to create special places to live, work and
play

• Which type of waterway would you be proud of in
  your area?

25
Its great for the local economy

• Farmers and graziers rely on healthy soil and
  healthy waterways
• Tourists visit and utilise healthy natural
  resources
• Community well being is enhanced by effective NRM
  people feel where they live is special
• Can you think of other economic benefits of NRM?

26
Council Needs To Set The Standard

• Council is the major land manager in their area
• Council is responsible for most of the
  infrastructure and maintenance activities
• Many Councils are becoming involved in their own
  development activities
• Difficult for Council to encourage business and
  the community to play their part in more
  effective NRM if they are not doing it themselves
• Council must comply with its own guidelines,
  policies and plans. (Part 5 of the EPA Act)

27
Legal Responsibility - Its the Law!
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What Happens if Something Goes Wrong

• Case Study
• Port Macquarie Hastings Council prosecution by
  DECC known as the Garrett v Freeman Case
  (2007)
• Summary
• Senior council employee knowingly contravened
  environmental protection legislation in
  particular the Threatened Species Conservation
  Act (1995)
• NPW Act section 118 D
• A person must not, by any act or omission, do
  anything that causes damage to any habitat of a
  threatened species if the person knows that the
  land is habitat of that kind

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What Happens if Something Goes Wrong

• Summary (Cont.)
• Both Council and the officer in question
  prosecuted did not follow requirements of Part
  5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment
  Act (1979)
• Council pleaded guilty - Individual fought the
  charge and lost
• Penalties
• Individual Fine - 57,000, Prosecutors Costs -
  167,500
• Council Fines - 80,500, Prosecutors Costs -
  194,000
• Plus Rehabilitation Costs

Lesson there are significant penalties for
non-compliance
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How to meet the challenges in delivering NRM?

• Quality NRM data and information
• A clear strategic direction (Vol 1)
• Clear council policy position, outlined in
  policies and supported through guidelines.
• Land use planning decision support tools that
  clearly state the intent of Council (Vol 2)
• Partnerships other support networks (eg ROC,
  CMA)
• Funding (Internal external)
• www.lgsa.org.au/nrm (a great place to start!)

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Whats In The Guidelines
P 3
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But Wait Theres MoreOther Resources
33
Morning Tea